Turkey Defies US, Keeps Russian Missile Defense Tech – Report

The US has actively been trying to derail the 2017 deal between Turkey and Russia on S-400 supplies, including by offering to sell American Patriot systems to the country instead. So far, Ankara has given a deaf ear to the proposals.

Turkey is not planning to resell Russian S-400s, Ömer Çelik, a spokesman for the governing Justice and Development (AK) Party assured, following statements that the US had crossed the line with its statements regarding Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian missile defense systems.

“These systems are made in Russia. We are buying them and are not intending to resell them to another country. We have paid for two S-400s and are awaiting their supplies in July”, he said.

The desire to buy Russian S-400 systems led to a worsening in US-Turkey relations. Washington fears the system will expose weaknesses of the F-35 and that it would be incompatible with NATO defenses. The US urged Ankara to drop the contract, offering Patriot systems instead and threatening to halt the delivery of F-35s.

Turkey slammed Washington’s threats and stated that the S-400 poses no threat to the F-35 as they will be operated by the Turkish military. Ankara reportedly offered to let Washington study the Russian systems when they arrive, but this was officially denied by Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar.

Earlier, the US Defence Department threatened that if Turkey does acquire Russian S-400 systems, Washington would be forced to cut its military relationship with Ankara and not deliver F-35s and Patriots.

At the same time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the S-400 deal with Russia and added that the acquisition of advanced S-500 systems from Russia is also on the table.

Flip the switch and supercharge your state of mind with the all-new Brain Force PLUS: 20% more capsules and a critically enhanced formula featuring a brand new ingredient and increased potency* – all for the same low price.

Flip the switch and supercharge your state of mind with the all-new Brain Force PLUS: 20% more capsules and a critically enhanced formula featuring a brand new ingredient and increased potency* – all for the same low price.